Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
Diagnosis plunges you into a state of disbelief or shock.
Testimony
I didn't realize it then, but it was the day my life changed forever.
I was numb.
I didn't even know that I was feeling shock and grief at what I had lost---my sense of health.
When I walked out to the parking lot, the sun was still shining, but everything looked different.
It felt unreal.
Dave
In this first phase of diagnosis, you need your family and support system to pull together to help you adjust:
1. The dianosis may make you feel uncomfortable or leave you with a numbing sense of shock and loss. YOu should understand that this response is normal.
2. Everyone needs psychological and social support---not just he person with hepatitis C. Other family members may be affected by the diagnosis. When one part of a system changes, everything in the system reacts in a "ripple" effect.
Testimony
When I was first diagnosed, I went numb. The first person I told was my best friend. She broke down---a flood of tears. I was horrified to find that my inner reaction was rage. I wanted to yell, : Hey, just a minute. I'm the one with the problem here!"
Thank goodness, I didn't say anything out loud, but I was mad until I realized that she had her own grief about losing me, her best friend, as she's always known me. Her world was shaken up, too.
All I wanted, all I ever really want even now, is for someone to put an arm around me and say, "I'm here. I know this is hard, I care about you."
Estelle
People may not respond to you in the way that you anticipate or expect. YOu may process the information fast while family members take longer, or the reverse. How fast or how slowly people absorb. How fast or how slowly people absorb the news affects the dynamics in a marriage or friendshipleaving everyone with the unconscious feeling that somehow the rules changed. In fact, just identifying these changes takes a while.
Sometimes, the patitent or support system refuses to accept the new reality.
"Denial" - "is a misunderstood defense. When it acts as a circuit-breaker, it keeps your system from overloading. That can be healthy. Denial becomes unhealthy when it keeps you from finding appropriate medical treatment.
Next continuence of this blod will consist of: SPECIAL PROBLEMS WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF HEPATITIS C.
Testimony
I didn't realize it then, but it was the day my life changed forever.
I was numb.
I didn't even know that I was feeling shock and grief at what I had lost---my sense of health.
When I walked out to the parking lot, the sun was still shining, but everything looked different.
It felt unreal.
Dave
In this first phase of diagnosis, you need your family and support system to pull together to help you adjust:
1. The dianosis may make you feel uncomfortable or leave you with a numbing sense of shock and loss. YOu should understand that this response is normal.
2. Everyone needs psychological and social support---not just he person with hepatitis C. Other family members may be affected by the diagnosis. When one part of a system changes, everything in the system reacts in a "ripple" effect.
Testimony
When I was first diagnosed, I went numb. The first person I told was my best friend. She broke down---a flood of tears. I was horrified to find that my inner reaction was rage. I wanted to yell, : Hey, just a minute. I'm the one with the problem here!"
Thank goodness, I didn't say anything out loud, but I was mad until I realized that she had her own grief about losing me, her best friend, as she's always known me. Her world was shaken up, too.
All I wanted, all I ever really want even now, is for someone to put an arm around me and say, "I'm here. I know this is hard, I care about you."
Estelle
People may not respond to you in the way that you anticipate or expect. YOu may process the information fast while family members take longer, or the reverse. How fast or how slowly people absorb. How fast or how slowly people absorb the news affects the dynamics in a marriage or friendshipleaving everyone with the unconscious feeling that somehow the rules changed. In fact, just identifying these changes takes a while.
Sometimes, the patitent or support system refuses to accept the new reality.
"Denial" - "is a misunderstood defense. When it acts as a circuit-breaker, it keeps your system from overloading. That can be healthy. Denial becomes unhealthy when it keeps you from finding appropriate medical treatment.
Next continuence of this blod will consist of: SPECIAL PROBLEMS WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF HEPATITIS C.
However, my husband's reaction pissed me off badly...1st thing he did was tell my kids (before I had chance) he told them to not worry if it got really bad they could be tested and maybe donate a piece of their liver to me so I could regenerate! He meant well but damn he scared my kids to death. Had long talk w/son and at end we were joking about dewrags and using pot for sides...my daughter is still in denial and won't even talk about it even tho I told her I was ok. he told them this even before my bx which turned out great G1/S1. He is biologist so is up on current options but jumped the gun w/o my permission and apologized.
Since then he keeps telling me 'it's gonna be ok-I'm here for you' which is nice but still makes me think he is worried about outcome...he should be I know but only makes me worry more about him!
So I do understand everyone has different reactions. My mother told family I had cirrohis and not HepC-felt like it was my place to tell them-embarrased how I got it I guess even tho she knew about drug use in past-I told her to go back & tell everyone I DO NOT have Cirrosis-I'd rather them know I have very minor liver damage from HepC and was fighting-didn't want everyone to think I was gonna die from being a drunk! My sister has HepC too and is meth addict (14-45 yrs old) she refuses to be treated but know one mentions her! I've begged her!
Alot of my friends have HepC-same reason as me - using drugs when 18 or so (30 yrs ago)- they are very understanding regardless of being cured or at end stage! Thank you for bringing up this important issue dear!